Method of generating heat by combustion of fuel



{No-Model.

W. L. TETER. METHOD OF GENERATING HEAT BY OOMBUSTION OE FUEL. NO. 499,055. Patented June 6, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

W'ILLIAM L. TETER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD OF GENE RATING HEAT'BY COMBUSTION OF FUEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 499,055, dated June 6, 1893.

Application filed February 26, 1892- $erial No.422,84-.9. (No model.)

To 611% whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. TETER, of the city and county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Methods of Generating Heat by the Combustion of Fuel, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new method of generating heat by the combustion of fuel and consists of certain novel steps and operations which are hereinafter fully set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which there is illustrated a form of apparatus adapted for the carrying outof the method.

The object of my invention is to produce increased heating effects from the combustion of fuel with economy in the quantity of fuel consumed.

In carrying out my invention I employ ordinary fuel such as coal and burn therewith a fuel gas generated by the combustion of the fuel itself and introduced from below the body of incandescent fuel by which it has been previously generated in such a way as to become intimately mixed therewith and consumed producing also a perfect combustion of the coal or solid fuel. The gas employed is composed of a mixture of hydrocarbon 'and steam which is first superheated by the products of combustion of the coal or other fuel so as to be transformed into a gaseous or partly gaseous condition. While this mixture is being thus transformed into a gaseous state it is kept from direct contact with the burning fuel so as not to be consumed thereby. This gas or partly gaseous mixture is then introduced from immediately below the body of burning fuel and over substantially the entire area thereof so as to become intimately mixed therewith throughout its body, and passes up into the burning fuel where it is consumed. Such ungasified elements as may remain with the mixture when it is introduced from below the incandescent body in passing up through the same become by contact with the hot fuel transformed into a gaseous state and are burned above the body of the fuel. This method may be most advantageously employed for the generation of steam in a boiler. In connection with the oil and steam superheated air may also be employed in the formation of the gas.

I shall now refer to the drawings .and describe in connection therewith a form of apparatus designed for carrying out my method of generating heat by the combustion. of fuel.

In these drawingsz-Figure 1 is a side elevation with part in vertical section of a furnace and steam boiler adapted for carrying out my method applied to the generation of steam, and Fig. 2 is a plan View of the burners.

A is the combustion chamber of the furnace.

B is the fire grate upon which the coal or other solid fuel is supported.

0 is a boiler.

D is a smoke outlet or stack.

E is the burner located under the grate B and consisting of a series of perforated pipes connected with a main F. The perforated pipes of the burner E extend over substantially the entire area of the grate B, so as to supply the gas equally throughout the extent of the body of fuel thereon.

G is a superheating and mixing chamber in which the gas is generated. This superheating chamber is located above the grate and preferably in the rear thereof so as to be in the path of the products of combustion therefrom and to leave the grate unobstructed for the reception of the fuel.

The chamber G is connected with the burner through a pipe f.

I is a pipe leading from an injector J to the chamber G by which the mixture of steam and oil is conducted to the chamber G.

K is a steam pipe for conveying steam to the injector J. This pipe K connects with the exhaust pipe L through the valved pipe M. It may also connect with the boiler O to supply live steam to the injector J through a valved steam pipe K as shown.

N is a blower for forcing air into the pipe 0 which connects with the steam pipe K preferably below the point of junction of the pipe K and exhaust pipe M. The pipe 0 may pass through the smoke outlet or stack adjacent to the outer end of the boiler in the form of a coil whereby the air therein may be heated before it is mixed with the steam in the pipe K.

o is a valve in the pipe 0.

P is an oil reservoir, the upper portion of 2 aeaoss tom of the reservoir holds the oil at the-top.

p is an outlet for the water of condensation.

R is a supply tank for supplying oil to the reservoir P.

S is the hot water heater of the engine exhaust pipe L; and s is the usual back pressure valve.

In this application I do not claim the apparatus herein described and shown; or any portion thereof, as the same forms the subject matter of my concurrent application, Serial No. 404,967, filed on the 7th day of September, 1891.

I shall now describe the operation of this apparatus in carrying out my improved method. The coal or other fuel is placed upon the grate B and is ignited in the usual manner. Steam, which may be either exhaust steam from the exhaust pipe L or live steam from the boiler, or a mixture of both, enters the injector J and draws with it a quantity of oil from the reservoir P. This mixture of steam and oil enters the chamber G and therein becomes thoroughly mixed and transformed into a gaseous condition by the heat of the chamber from the combustion of the fuel on the grate. The oil is thus transformed into volatile hydrocarbon and reacting with the decomposed steam forms hydrogen, carbon monoxide and other combustible gases and'these gases pass through the pipe f to the burners E, and emerging therefrom,

below the body of incandescent fuel upon the grate, are evenly distributed throughout the area thereof and are burned with the fuel producing a more complete combustion thereof and great heating effects.

In practice a portion of the'steam is usually not decomposed, and these undecom posed portions of the steam emerging from the pipes E pass up through the body of the incandescent fuel and by contact therewith are converted into hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide and together with some of the hydrocarbon gases pass through the body of the fuel and are consumed in the space immediately above the same. If desired the oil and steam may be introduced separately into the chamber G. Hot air may also be introduced with the steam v and oil. The supply of fuel upon the grate B should be maintained by the addition of morefuel as may be required.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The herein described method of generating heat by the combustion of fuel which consists in burningabody of solid fuelsuch as coal, mixing oil and steam together and subjecting said mixed oil and steam to the heat of the products of combustion of the solid fuel but out of direct contact therewith and thereby converting the same" into combustible gases, leading the combustible gases'thus generated to a point below the incandescent bod y of solid fuel and allowing the same to escape and pass up into said incandescent body of solid fuel and be consumed therewith.

2. The herein described method of generating heat by the combustion of fuel which consists in burning a body of solid fuel such as coal, mixing oil and steam together and subjecting said mixed oil and steam to the heat of the products of combustion of the solid fuel but out of direct contact therewith and thereby converting the same into combustible gases, leading the combustible gases thus generated to a point below the incandescent body of solid fuel and distributing the said combustible gases evenly over the area of the bottom of the said body of incandescent fuel and allowing the same to pass up into the body thereof and be consumed there= with.

3. The herein described method of generating heat by the combustion of fuel which consists in first burning a body of solid fuel, then subjecting a'mixture of oil "and steam to the heat of the products of combustion from said fuel but without direct contact therewith and converting the same into combustible gases, then leading the same below the body of the incandescent solid fuel and permitting them to escape and pass up into the same and be consumed therewith and finally maintaining the body of solid fuel'by adding more fuel thereto.

4. The herein described method of generating heat by the combustion of fuel which consists in first igniting a body of solid fuel such as coal and heating the same to incan-' descence, then subjecting steam and oil to the heat of the products of the'combustion of said body of fuel but without direct contact therewith and decomposing the oil into volatile hydrocarbons, and partly decomposing the steam and causing a reaction between said volatile hydrocarbon-s and decomposed steam to form combustible gases, then leading said mixture of combustible gases and the undecomposed portions of the steam to a point below the body of the incandescent fuel allowing the same to escape and pass up into the body thereof, whereby the undecomposed portions of the steam are converted into hydrogen and carbon monoxide in passing through the incandescent body of solid fuel and are burned above the same.

5. The herein described method of generating heat by the combustion of fuel which consists in first igniting a body of solidfuel, such as coal, to incandescence, then subjecting a mixture of air, oil and steam to heat of the products of combustion of the said fuel but without direct contact therewith and transforming the same into combustible gases, then leading the said combustible gases below the body of the incandescent fuel disto escape and pass up into the body of the fuel and be consumed.

6. The herein described method of generating heat by the combustion of fuel which consists in first igniting a body of solid fuel such as coal to incandescence, then introducing oil and air within the body of the incandescent fuel and out of direct contact therewith and converting said oil and steam into combustible gases,-then leading said comb-ustible gases below the body of the incandescent fuel and allowing them to pass up into it and be consumed.

In testimony of which invention 1 have hereunto set my hand.

- WILLIAM L. TETER. 

